Portable, torso support stand



Jan. 3, 1961 w sY s 2,967,006

PORTABLE, TORSO SUPPORT STAND I Filed Sept. 24, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HOPE f1! SYKE-S Jan. 3, 1961 w, K S 2,967,006

PORTABLE TORSO SUPPORT STAND Filed Sept. 24, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. HOPE n4 SVKES Jan. 3, 1961 H. w. SYKES 2,967,006

PORTABLE, TC RSO SUPPORT STAND Filed Sept. 24, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. HOPE M/ 674055 ilnited States Paten r PORTABLE, TORSO SUPPORT STAND Hope W. Sykes, 1341 14th St., Apt. A, Santa Monica, Calif.

Filed Sept. 24, 1956, Ser. No. 611,548

9 Claims. (Cl. 22368) Generally speaking, the present invention relates to the support stand art and, more particularly, it pertains to a novel portable, torso support stand of an easily collapsible construction and is particularly well adapted to be used with a collapsible and readily portable torso-simulating dress form (or garment form).

Applicant is aware of the fact that various torso support stands, certain of them allegedly collapsible and portable, havebeen developed heretofore. However, all of said such prior art torso support stands known to applicant have major disadvantages of one type or another.

As an example, certain prior art collapsible, torso sup port stands comprise a plurality of members which must be properly and individually oriented with respect to each other (in other words assembled) in order to place the support stand in an operative condition. This type of prior art construction is exceedingly disadvantageous because of the difficulty of collapsing and assembling the parts into a support position and frequently requires the services of two people to assemble it as well as necessitating the use of various hand tools. Various other prior art devices, allegedly portable, require a permanent or semi-permanent mounting base that is built into a floor or surface which greatly restricts the use and movement of these devices. It should be noted that a large number of torso support stands are specially built for specific torso shapes and sizes and are, therefore, not interchangeable with a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and manifold torso types. Furthermore, such prior art arrangements are usually bulky, costly, and relatively difiicult to assemble and collapse. All prior art devices, known to applicant, are not suited to be used with collapsible and portable torsosimulating dress forms.

Also most prior art collapsible torso support stands do not collapse into a relatively small, lightweight configuration such as to facilitate portability and/or storage during a period of non-use.

Generally speaking, the collapsible, portable torso support stand which is cooperable for supporting a replica of a torso includes a plurality of shaft members, usually disposed telescopically, and which are extenable into an upright position and are mounted with respect to a base, and with the shaft members having fastening means cooperable for securing the shaft members in an extended torso supporting position. The fastening means may be a screw type arrangement or the interior portion of the shaft members may be made so they will be mutually interlockable upon extension into the support position, or may be, as illustrated herein, clasp means cooperable with transverse clasp retaining grooves for retaining the shaft members in an upright position. Prop means, usually adjustable and graduated according to hip and neck size, are cooperable for receiving and retaining the torsosimulating dress form on the stand. The prop means are generally composed of an overhead member and an underlying member and with each of said members having retractable and extendable arm members and with the arm members having retaining means adjacent an edge 2,967,006 Patented Jan. 3, 1961 thereof in which to retain at least a portion of a torsosimulating dress form. Snap means and grooved recess means are generally used to retain the torso. The under: lying prop member is made so that it can be folded for convenient storage when not in use. A removable hou'sing, which is cooperable for enclosing the shaft members, the prop means, and the collapsed torso, and handle means are provided to facilitate storage and make the,

support stand readily portable.

From the above description of basic and generic forms of the present invention, it will be apparent to those.

skilled in the art that virtually all of the hereinbefore men-, tioned prior art problems and/or disadvantages are substantially entirely eliminated, met and/or overcome in and through use of the present invention.

For example, it is obvious that the torso support stand is rapidly and easily assembled and collapsible, and that, when a torso-simulating dress form is mounted on the present invention it is very firmly positioned in such a manner which precludes the likelihood of the torso-simulating dress form becoming accidentally disengaged from the torso stand. It should also be noted that the torso support stand of the present invention is so constructed as to provide a rigid support structure for various torso arrangements as.

Well as having sundry allied supporting uses.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the support stand of the present invention is capable of being collapsed into a greatly reduced configuration which enhances the utility Other and allied objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a careful perusal, examination and study of the accompanying illustrations, the present specification, and the appended claims.

To facilitate understanding, reference will be made to the hereinbelow described figures, in which:

Fig. l is a front view largely in vertical section but with the innermost telescoping tube partly broken away and shown in elevation to illustrate the bayonet catch and the cross pin in a locking position, and illustrates a typical torso support stand in a collapsed state with a the outline of an illustrative torso-simulating dress form symbolically shown in broken lines within the housing whereby the portability of the present invention is clearly shown;

Fig. 1A is a larger-scale fragmentary vertical sectional view showing upper and lower portions of the assembly of telescopically-engaged shaft members shown in Fig. 1, with the central and bottom portions broken away for drawing simplification purposes, and moreclearly show-.

ing the clasp means and detent means adapted to lock the shaft members in extended relationship as shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 1B is an enlarged fragmentary view very similar to the bottom portion of Fig. 1 but showing the cross pin in direct end elevation whereby to more clearly show the bayonet-type catch, and with portions of the shaft members being shown in vertical section;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the torso support stand extended into a support position with a representative torso-simulating dress form mounted thereon;

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the device in a collapsed state and showing a typical torso-simulating dress in a collapsed, portable state and illustrates the easy operation of the device and the accessibility of all the elements;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction indicated by the arrows IV-1V in Fig. 2 and shows the triangular guide means impressed on the shaft which fa cilitates rapid and positive alignment of the shaft members (this view has the base removed for reasonsof simplicity) -Fig. 5 is enlarged perspective view of the overhead prop member shown in the exploded view comprising Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view taken through two vertically adjacent telescopically engaged shaft members in the direction of the arrows VI--VI of Fig. 8, and shows in solid lines one of the clasp means engaged with respect to one of the detent means and shows the disengaged position thereof in broken lines;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of Fig. 6 taken in the direction of the arrows VIIVII;

'Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of Fig. 6 showing the junction of two of the vertically telescopically-engaged shaft members;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken in the direction of the'arrows IX--lX of Fig. 1B and shows the detail of the cross pin and bayonet-type catch illustrated in Figs. 1 and 1B; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view, of reduced size by comparison with Fig. 9, showing in perspective the oppositely positioned bayonet-type catches adapted to removably engage the cross pin shown in Figs. 1, 1B and 9. i

Generally speaking, the portable, torso support stand indicated generally at 6, consists of a plurality of verti cally movably telescoping shaft members 4 which are slidable within a female shaft member '5, which is fixedly mounted to a base 18, and are extendable into an upright support position, as shown in Fig. 2. Fastening means, which in the specific example illustrated takes the form of clasp means 7, each comprising a resilient partial ringlike member having a portion adjacent one end exteriorly fastened to a corresponding one of the shaft members 4 adjacent the top thereof and each clasp means 7 having an engaging portion ad acent the other end thereof controllably removably lockingly engageable with correspondingtransverse detent means 8, each of which may comprise a groove, slot, or hole, carried by the next corresponding inner one of said shaft members 4 adjacent the bottom thereof whereby to effectively and controllably disengageably maintain the shaft members in an upright torso supporting position, as shown in Fig. 2, and with longitudinal guide, which in the specific example illustrated takes the form of triangular grooves 9 which are impressed on the shaft members 4, 5, and 13, as shown in Fig. 4, in order to facilitate alignment of the shaft members 4, 5, and 13 in an upright position. The innermost shaft member 13 has a catch or receiving recess 28 in which to removably engage a cross pin 29 of a length such'that the shaft members 4 and 13 are restrained from moving when in a collapsed position, as shown in Fig. l at the bottom.

The prop means, for securing the torso 15 on the support stand 6, usually consist of an overhead prop member, indicated generally at 10, which is positioned with respect to innermost shaft member 13, and has a plurality of retractable arm members 11 which are slid able within corresponding inverted gutters 19, and with the extendable arm members 10 having torso retaining means adiacent an edge thereof, which in the specific example illustrated takes the form of male snap means 12, which removably and effectively retain the torsosimulating dress form 15, as shown in Fig. 2; and with an underlying prop member, indicated generally at 14, removably retaining the hip portion of the torso-simulating garment 15 thereon, and which has a plurality of retractable arm members 16 which are slidable within corresponding gutters 19, which are right side up rather than upside down like the gutters 19 of the overhead prop member 10; the extendible structural features of the overhead prop member 14 and the underlying prop member 14 being substantially identical aside from the fact that the extendible structural features of the overhead prop member 10 are inverted while the corresponding extendible structural features of the underlying prop member 14 are right side up. Furthermore, the extendible arm members 16 have torso retaining means adjacent an edge thereof, which in the specific example illustrated takes the form of upright, grooved recess means 17, that removably and effectively retain the hip region of the torso-simulating replica 15, as shown in Fig. 2. The retractable arm members 11 of the overhead prop member 10 are selectively adjustable and may be graduated according to neck size. The retractable arm members 16 of the underlying prop member 14 are selectively adjustable and may be graduated according to hip size.

The underlying prop member 14 has a plurality of gutters 19, which slidably restrains the arm members 16 therein, and has a plurality of brace members 21, which are affixed to the bottom side of the gutters 13, and with the gutters 19 and the brace members 21 being pivotable about a rod member 22 whereby the prop member 14 is pivotable into a substantially prependicular position with respect to the shaft members 4, as shown in Fig. 2, and into a substantially parallel position with respect to the shaft members 4, as shown in Figs. l and 3. Resilient means, which in the specific example illustrated takes the form of corrugated rubber 23, are aihxed tothe bottom'side of the brace members 21, the surface engaging the shaft members 4 when in the perpendicular position (Fig. 2), in order to friotionally attach the underlying prop member 14 to the shaft members 4, 5, and 13. A removable housing 24 is provided to enclose all of the component parts and the torso-simulating dress} form 15 therein, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, for storage convenience and portability. A removable locking hamdle 25 is provided to carry the housing 24 and the torso support stand 6. The handle 25 is threaded onto the upright tln'eaded bolt 26, which is fastened to the outer end of the innermost shaft member 13 by means of a rivet 27. The torso-simulating dress form 15 is generally, but not always, wound around a core 23 and inserted over the shaft members 4, 5, and 13 for convenient storage and availability.

It should be understood that while the present invention is specifically directed to be used with a collapsible torso-simulating model, as described in a co-pending application entitled Collapsible, Portable, Torso-Simulating Dress Form, Serial Number 523,406, filed July 21, 1955 which subsequently resulted in the issuance, on January 29, 1957, of U.S. Letters Patent No. 2,779,520, it is not necessarily limited to such a torso arrangement.

Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention will occur tothose skilled in the art after a careful study hereof. All such properly within the basic spirit, scope and/or teachings of the present invention are intended to be included and comprehended herein as fully as if specifically described, illustrated and claimed.

For example, it is obvious that the telescoping shaft members may be modified in a number of ways such as, for example, an arrangement whereby the shaft members may be actuated into a support position, through the use of a toggle joint arrangement, by having the shaft members pivotable, substantially, one hundred and eighty degrees. The prop members may be modified substantially and may assume a variety of different locations (and/or number) other than as specifically described and illustrated herein. Also the torso retaining means, located on the prop members, may be modified substantially as to type, number, and location, and is not limited to the retaining means specifically illustrated herein.

The exact compositions, configurations, constructions relative positionings, and cooperative relationships of the various component parts of the present invention are not critical, and can be modified substantially within the spirit of the present invention.

The embodiments of the present invention specifically described and illustrated herein are exemplary only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is to be interpreted in the light of the prior art and the appended claims only, with due consideration for the doctrine of equivalents.

I claim:

1. A portable, collapsible and extendible torso support stand cooperable for supporting a torso-simulating dress form, comprising: a horizontal base provided with and centrally vertically mounting an upwardly directed upwardly open hollow female shaft member; a plurality of upright, telescoping shaft members collapsible into said female shaft member; clasp means cooperable for securing said shaft members in an extended torso supporting position; an overhead prop member which is cooperable to receive and retain at least a portion of a torso-simulating dress form; an underlying prop member which is cooperable to receive and retain at least a portion of a torsosimulating dress form, means for attaching said underlying prop member to said shaft members; a removable housing having a closed top, closed side wall means, and a downwardly directed open bottom defined by a substantially horizontal continuous bottom edge, said closed top having a central vertical aperture, said removable housing removably enclosing said plurality of telescoping shaft members, said overhead prop member, and said underlying prop member therein when in the collapsed position with said bottom edge of said removable housing in retaining and positioning abutment with the upper surface of said horizontal base, and with the upper end of said plurality of telescoping shaft members being positioned adjacent to and in vertical alignment with said central vertical aperture; and handle means controllably removably fastened to the upper end of said plurality of telescoping shaft members and fixedly fastening said overhead prop member thereto and removably abutting said closed top and forcing said bottom edge downwardly into retaning and positioning abutment with the upper surface of said horizontal base.

2. A portable, collapsible and extendible torso support stand cooperable for supporting a torso-simulating dress form, comprising: a horizontal base provided with and centrally vertically mounting an upwardly directed upwardly open hollow female shaft member; a plurality of upright, telescoping shaft members collapsible into said female shaft member; said shaft members having clasp retaining grooves thereon, clasp means cooperable for retaining said shaft members in an extended torso supporting position upon insertion into said clasp retaining grooves on said shaft members; an overhead prop. member which is cooperable to receive and retain at least a portion of a torso-simulating dress form; an underlying prop member which is cooperable to receive and retain at least a portion of a torso-simulating dress form, means for attaching said underlying prop member to said shaft members; a removable housing having a closed top, closed side wall means, and a downwardly directed open bottom defined by a substantially horizontal continuous bottom edge, said closed top having a central vertical aperture, said removable housing removably enclosing said plurality of telescoping shaft members, said overhead prop member, and said underlying prop member therein when in the collapsed position with said bottom edge of said removable housing in retaining and positioning abutment with theupper surface of said horizontal base, and with the upper end of said plurality of telescoping shaft members being positioned adjacent to and in vertical alignment with said central vertical aperture; and handle means controllably removably fastened to the upper end of said plurality of telescoping shaft members and fixedly fastening said overhead prop member thereto and removably abutting said closed top and forcing said bottom edge downwardly into retaining and positioning abutment with the upper surface of said horizontal base.

3. A portable, collapsible and extendible torso support stand cooperable for supporting a torso-simulating dress form, comprising: a horizontal base provided with and centrally vertically mounting an upwardly directed upwardly open hollow female shaft member; a plurality of upright, telescoping shaft members collapsible into said female shaft member; fastening means cooperable for securing said shaft members in an extended torso supporting position, said shaft members having guide means thereon to facilitate securing said shaft members in an extended torso supporting position; an overhead prop member having a plurality of retractable arm members, which are selectively adjustable, and which is cooperable to receive and retain at least a portion of a torso-simulating dress form; an underlying prop member having a plurality of retractable arm members, which are selectively adjustable, and which is cooperable to receive and retain at least a portion of a torso-simulating dress form, said underlying prop member having resilient means cooperable for frictional attachment with respect to said shaft members; a removable housing having a closed top, closed side wall means, and a downwardly directed open bottom defined by a substantially horizontal continuous bottom edge, said closed top having a central vertical aperture, said removable housing removably enclosing said plurality of telescoping shaft members, said overhead prop member, and said underlying prop member therein when in the collapsed position with said bottom edge of said removable housing in retaining and positioning abutment with the upper surface of said horizontal base, and with the upper end of said plurality of telescoping shaft members being positioned adjacent to and in vertical alignment with' said central vertical aperture; andhandle means controllably removably fastened to the upper end of said plurality of telescoping shaft members and fixedly fastening said overhead prop member thereto and removably abutting said closed top and forcing said bottom edge downwardly into retaining and positioning abutment with the upper surface of said horizontal base.

4. A portable, collapsible and extendible torso support stand cooperable for supporting a torso-simulating dress form, comprising: a horizontal base provided with and centrally vertically mounting an upwardly directed upwardly open hollow female shaft member; a plurality of upright, telescoping shaft members collapsible into said female shaft member; fastening means cooperable for securing said shaft members in an extended torso supporting position; an overhead prop member having a plurality of retractable arm members, which are selectively adjustable,

and which is cooperable to receive and retain at least a portion of a torso-simulating dress form; an underlying prop member having a plurality of retractable arm mernbers, which are selectively adjustable, and which is cooperable to receive and retain at least a portion of a torsosimulating dress form, said underlying prop member having resilient means cooperable for frictional attachment with respect to said shaft members; said retractable arm members having retaining means adjacent an edge thereof which are cooperable for retaining a portion of a torso-simulating dress form; a removable housing having a closed top, closed side wall means, and a downwardly directed open tal continuous bottom edge, said closed top having a central vertical aperture, said removable housing removably enclosing said plurality of telescoping shaft members, said overhead prop member, and said underlying prop member base, and with the upper end of said plurality of telescopmg. shaft members being positioned adjacent to and in bottom defined by a substantially horizonvertical alignment with said central vertical aperture; and handle means controllably removably fastened to the upper end of said plurality of telescoping shaft members and fixedly fastening said Overhead prop member thereto and removably abutting said closed top and forcing said bottom edge downwardly into retaining and positioning abutment with the upper surface of said horizontal base.

5. A portable, collapsible and extendible torso support stand cooperable for supporting a torso-simulating dress form, comprising: a horizontal base provided with and centrally vertically mounting an upwardly directed upwardly open hollow female shaft member; a plurality of upright, telescoping shaft members collapsible into said female shaft member; said shaft members having means mutually interlockable at the ends thereof when extended into a torso support position; an overhead prop member having a plurality of retractable arm members, which are selectively adjustable according to neck size, and which is cooperable to receive and retain the neck region of a torso-simulating dress form, said retractable arm members, of said overhead prop member, having snap means adjacent an edge thereof which are cooperable for retaining a portion of a torso-simulating dress form; an underlying prop member having a plurality of retractable arm members, which are selectively adjustable according to hip size, and which is cooperable to receive and retain the hip region of a torso-simulating dress form, said underlying prop member having resilient means cooperable for frictional attachment with respect to said shaft mem bers, said retractable arm members, of said underlying prop member, having recess means adjacent an edge thereof which are cooperable for retaining a portion of a torsosimulating dress form, said retractable arm members of said underlying prop member being foldable into a substantially upright position and being extendible into a substantially perpendicular position with respect to said shaft members; a removable housing having a closed top, closed side wall means, and a downwardly directed open bottom defined by a substantially horizontal continuous bottom edge, said closed top having a central vertical aperture, said removable housing removably enclosing said plurality of telescoping shaft members, said overhead prop member, and said underlying prop member therein when in the collapsed position with said bottom edge of said removable housing in retaining and positioning abutment with the upper surface of said horizontal base, and with the upper end of said plurality of telescoping shaft members being positioned adjacent to and in vertical align ment with said central vertical aperture; and handle means controllably removably fastened to the upper end of said plurality of telescoping shaft members and fixedly fastening said overhead prop member thereto and removably abutting said closed top and forcing said bottom edge downwardly into retaining and positioning abutment with the upper surface of said horizontal base.

6. A portable, collapsible and extendible torso support stand cooperable for supporting a torso-simulating dress form, comprising: a horizontal base provided with and centrally vertically mounting an upwardly directed upwardly open hollow female shaft member; a plurality of upright, telescoping shaft members collapsible into said female shaft member; said shaft members having means mutually interlockable at the ends thereof when extended into a torso support position; an overhead prop member having a plurality of retractable arm members, which are selectively adjustable according to neck size, and which is cooperable to receive and retain the neck region of a torso-simulating dress form, said retractable arm members, of said overhead prop member, having snap means adjacent an edge thereof which are cooperable for retaining the neck portion of a torso-simulating dress form; an underlying prop member having a plurality of retractable arm members, which are selectively adjustable according to hip size, and which are cooperable to receive and retain the hip region of a torso-simulating dress form, said unbers, said retractable arm members, of said underlying prop member, having grooved recess means adjacent an edge thereof which are cooperable for retaining the hip portion of a torso-simulating dress form, said retractablearm members of said underlying prop member being foldable into a substantially upright position and being extendible into a substantially perpendicular position with respect to said shaft members; a removable housing having a closed top, closed side wall means, and a downwardly directed open bottom defined by a substantially horizontal continuous bottom edge, said closed top having a central vertical aperture, said removable housing removably enclosing said plurality of telescoping shaft members, said overhead prop member, and said underlying prop member therein when in the collapsed position with said bottom edge of said removable housing in retaining and positioning abutment with the upper surface of said horizontal base, and with the upper end of said plurality of telescoping shaft members being positioned adjacent to and in vertical alignment with said central vertical aperture; and handle means controllably removably fastened to the upper end of said plurality of telescoping shaft members and fixedly fastening said overhead prop member thereto and removably abutting said closed top and forcing said bottom edge downwardly into retaining and positioning abutment with the upper surface of saidhorizontal base.

7. A portable, collapsible and extendible torso support stand cooperable for supporting a torso-simulating dress form, comprising: a disc-shaped horizontal base having an upwardly open circular reception and positioning groove in the upper surface of said base and being provided with and centrally vertically mounting an upwardly directed upwardly open hollow female shaft member; a plurality of upright, telescoping shaft members collapsible into said female shaft member vertically, fastening means cooperable for securing said shaft members in an extended torso supporting position; an overhead prop member having a plurality of retractable arm members, which are selectively adjustable according to neck size, and which is cooperable to receive and retain the neck region of a torso-simulating dress form; an underlying prop member having a plurality of retractable arm members, which are selectively adjustable according to hip size, and which are cooperable to receive and retain the hip region of a torso-simulating dress form, said underlying prop member having resilient means cooperable for frictional attachment with respect to said shaft members; said retractable arm members having retaining means adjacent an edge thereof which are cooperable for retaining a portion of a torso-simulating dress form; a removable substantially cylindrical housing having a closed substantially horizontal top, a closed substantially cylindrical side wall, and a downwardly directed open bottom defined by a substantially circular continuous bottom edge lying in a substantially horizontal plane, said closed top having a central vertical aperture, said removable housing removably enclosing said plurality of telescoping shaft members, said overhead prop member, and said underlying prop member therein when in the collapsed position with said circular bottom edge of said removable housing inserted in said circular reception and positioning groove, and with the upper end of said plurality of telescoping shaft members being positioned adjacent to and in vertical alignment with said central vertical aperture; and handle means controllably removably fastened to the upper end of said plurality of telescoping shaft members and fixedly fastening said overhead prop member thereto and removably abutting said closed top and forcing said circular bottom edge downwardly into retaining and positioning engagement within said circular reception and positioning groove.

8. A portable, collapsible and extendible torso support stand cooperable for supporting a torso-simulating dress form, comprising: a horizontal base provided with and centrally vertically mounting an upwardly directed upwardly open hollow female shaft member; a plurality of upright, telescoping shaft members collapsible into said female shaft member; said shaft members having means mutually interlockable at the ends thereof when extended into a torso support position; an overhead prop member having a plurality of retractable arm members, which are selectively adjustable according to neck size, and which is cooperable to receive and retain the neck region of a torso-simulating dress form; an underlying prop member having a plurality of retractable arm members, which are selectively adjustable according to hip' size, and which is cooperable to receive and retain the hip region of a torso-simulating dress form, said underlying prop member having resilient means cooperable for frictional attachment with respect to said shaft members; said retractable arm members having retaining means adjacent an edge thereof which are cooperable for retaining a portion of a torso-simulating dress form, said retractable arm members of said underlying prop member being foldable into a substantially upright position and being extendible into a substantially perpendicular position with respect to said shaft members; a removable housing having a closed top, closed side wall means, and a downwardly directed open bottom defined by a substantially horizontal continuous bottom edge, said closed top having a central vertical aperture, said removable housing removably enclosing said plurality of telescoping shaft members, said overhead prop member, and said underlying prop member therein when in the collapsed position with said bottom edge of said removable housing in retaining and positioning abutment with the upper surface of said horizontal base, and with the upper end of said plurality of telescoping shaft members being positioned adjacent to and in vertical alignment with said central vertical aperture; and handle means controllably removably fastened to the upper end of said plurality of telescoping shaft members and fixedly fastening said overhead prop member thereto and removably abutting said closed top and forcing said bottom edge downwardly into retaining and positioning abutment with the upper surface of said horizontal base.

9. A portable, collapsible and extendible torso support stand cooperable for supporting a torso-simulating dress form, comprising: a horizontal base provided with and centrally vertically mounting an upwardly directed upwardly open hollow female shaft member; a plurality of upright, telescoping shaft members collapsible into said female shaft member; the top end of said shaft members being mutually interlockable with the bottom end of said shaft member directly within, said shaft members having guide means thereon to facilitate securing said shaft members in an extended torso supporting position; an overhead prop member having a plurality of retractable arm members, which are selectively adjustable according to neck size, and which is cooperable to receive and retain the neck region of a torso-simulating dress form; an underlying prop member having a plurality of retractable arm members, which are selectively adjustable according to hip size, and which is cooperable to receive and retain the hip region of a torso-simulating dress form, means for attaching said underlying prop member to said shaft members; said retractable arm members having retaining means adjacent an edge thereof which are c0- operab-le for retaining a portion of a torso-simulating dress form, said retractable arm members being foldable into a substantially upright position and extendible into a substantially perpendicular position with respect to said shaft members; a removable housing having a closed top, closed side wall means, and a downwardly directed open bottom defined by a substantially horizontal continuous bottom edge, said closed top having a central vertical aperture, said removable housing removably enclosing said plurality of telescoping shaft members, said overhead prop member, and said underlying prop member therein when in the collapsed position with said bottom edge of said removable housing in retaining and positioning abutment with the upper surface of said horizontal base, and with the upper end of said plurality of telescoping shaft members being positioned adjacent to and in vertical alignment with said central vertical aperture; and handle means controllably removably fastened to the upper end of said plurality of telescoping shaft members and fixedly fastening said overhead prop member thereto and removably abutting said closed top and forcing said bottom edge downwardly into retaining and positioning abutment with the upper surface of said horizontal base.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,272,678 Kroll July 16, 1918 2,341,424 Chason Feb. 8, 1944 2,348,620 Grover May 9, 1944 2,418,067 Carpenter Mar. 25, 1947 2,628,747 Smith Feb. 17, 1953 2,745,578 Wexler et a1. May 15, 1956 2,779,520 Sykes Jan. 29, 1957 

